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dSG DEMOCRATIC STUDY GROUP. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
225-5858. 1422 HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
HON. DAVID R. OBEY (Wisconsin)-Chairman RICHARD P. CONLON - Staff Director
SPECIAL REPORT
No. 96-22
CHAIRMANSHIP REMOVAL PROVISION
OF WILSON CENSURE RESOLUTION
May 28, 1980
This DSG Special Report deals with the controversial
and unprecedented recommendation of the Standards Committee
that the House, rather than the majority party caucus,
remove a censured Member from a subcommittee chairmanship.
The provision of H.Res. 660, In the Matter of Rep. C.
Wilson (Calif.), which provides that he be stripped of his
subcommittee chairmanship, would create a precedent for
intruding upon and overriding the rules and prerogatives of
both the Democratic Caucus and the Republican Conference
with respect to committee chairmanships and ranking minority
positions.
The right of the respective party caucuses to determine
committee assignments, including committee chairmanships,
has been upheld by the House over the past 70 years without
exception.
A motion to strike the section of the resolution that
deals with committee chairmanships is expected to be offered
when the House considers the resolution on Thursday, May 29.
This Special Report contains the following sections:
I. Background and Summary. . . .. .. 3
II. History of Caucus Prerogatives . 5
III. The McMillan Precedent . 7
IV. Arguments For and Against . 9

Congressman Charles Wilson began his political career in 1960 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. He served in the Texas House of Representatives for six years and was then elected to the Texas Senate in 1966. On November 7, 1972, the second district of Texas elected Charles Wilson to the U.S. House of Representatives. He retired from the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996.

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